Scripture: Romans 15:5-7
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Thought for the Day: The following comes from Geoff and Marissa Mitchell, the new church pastors outside of Chicago who came to visit us about ten months ago:
Sunday I told the story of standing in line at Wal Mart during Christmas. It was frustrating. The man in front of me took his items out of the cart one at a time and doubled checked each price before he handed over the next item. It about drove me crazy. But the universal experience we have at Wal Mart has much less to do with the person in front of us in line as it has to do with the lack of access to opportunities to check out. How many times have been you standing in a long line while there are more than a dozen checkout lines closed without a cashier? Why is it that at the peak hours there are at only a couple lines open and moving? Why can’t they simply open more lanes?
Several things happen when there are not enough lanes open. Shoppers get frustrated. The likelihood of a return shopper and positive shopping experience diminishes. And more than once I have seen someone leave their cart full of groceries in line and walk out the door. I am not proud to say I did that very thing many year ago in Texas.
The same is true in church. For the first year in our church, there were just a couple lines to move into into the life of the church, to connect with what this really is. And what we have done has worked extremely well to start the church, to share faith, and to create a congregation of people who felt outside of faith prior to experiencing Big Life.
But we can’t keep doing what we’ve done if we want new results – new growth, new steps in people’s faith, and new relationships. If we do not add more ‘lanes’, the relational lines will back up, faith will not be grown, well-intended efforts that used to work fine will become frustrating and worse – someone who does not know faith or has an immature faith may just walk right back out into the cold. The warm welcome you received months ago simply will not be available to welcome others if we do not open more ‘lanes’.
Where are we welcoming others as Christ welcomed us? How are we opening new lanes into a fuller experience of faith? These are some good questions being raised by Geoff and Marissa.
Prayer: God of Grace and Goodness, continue to encourage me in the creation of lanes that are both open and welcoming to all who yearn to know you. Amen.
